It’s time to push past the stigma and finally treat addiction as a bona fide health issue. But that will only happen when we start addressing the overdose epidemic with the same determination that we would apply to any other national public health emergency.

A universal pharmacare program could prevent disaster for many and help Canadians get access to the drugs they need. If the federal government is serious in their commitment to high quality healthcare, they will forego the damaging silence of their predecessors and work with the provinces and territories in implementing a universal pharmacare program for all Canadians.

Without any standardized way to measure performance and outcomes across the country, the opportunity to ensure equitable health for marginalized groups including indigenous populations and seniors will also remain difficult to achieve.